By Abu Dalisu l May 29, 2026
The Government of Ghana has officially dismissed a widely circulated deportation notice allegedly issued by Cambodian authorities ordering African nationals to leave the Southeast Asian country, describing the document as fake and misleading.
The clarification came after panic spread across social media platforms over claims that Cambodia had directed Africans, including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Kenyans, Cameroonians and Ugandans, to exit the country before the end of May or face arrest, imprisonment and hefty fines.
In a statement issued on Friday, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said investigations confirmed that the controversial notice was not an official directive from the Cambodian government. The ministry urged citizens to disregard the publication and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating fear among Africans living abroad.
According to Ghanaian authorities, the fake document falsely claimed that African nationals who remained in Cambodia beyond May 31, 2026, would face a two-year jail term and an $8,000 penalty before deportation. The ministry stressed that Cambodian officials had denied issuing such a sweeping deportation order targeting Africans.
The Ghanaian government further explained that while some immigration-related concerns involving foreign nationals may exist in Cambodia, there was no blanket policy specifically aimed at Africans or Ghanaians.
Before Ghana’s reaction, Cambodian authorities had also reportedly distanced themselves from the viral document after it gained traction online and triggered anxiety among migrant communities and relatives back home.
The controversy intensified after several blogs and social media accounts shared the alleged immigration directive as authentic, sparking fears of mass arrests and deportations across African communities residing in Cambodia.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry advised citizens living abroad to rely only on official government communication channels for immigration and travel information. The ministry also encouraged Ghanaians in Cambodia to remain calm and stay in contact with Ghana’s diplomatic representatives for verified updates concerning their safety and legal status.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing danger of misinformation on social media, especially regarding immigration issues affecting vulnerable migrant populations. Analysts say false immigration notices and fabricated government directives often spread rapidly online, creating unnecessary panic and diplomatic confusion.
Authorities in both Ghana and Cambodia are expected to continue monitoring the situation while urging the public to verify sensitive international information before sharing it online.